Dust guard for journal boxes



F. S. BARKS.

DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

Application filed November 15, 1820. Serial No. 424,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKS. BARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dust Guards for Journal Boxes,of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is an elevational view of my improved dust guard.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a journal box and axle showing my improved dust guard in position.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the portion of the journal box showing my improved dust guard in position.

Figure 4c is a rear elevational view of the journal box showing my dust guard in position.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in dust guards for journal boxes, the object being to simplify and cheapen the cost of the manufacture of such dust guards.

One of the objects of my invention is to make a dust guard which will have free movement to a limited extent in the journal box transversely of the axle, whereby the clearances usually allowed between the axle and the opening in the rear wall of the journal' box through which the axle passes will be entirely covered by the dust guard, said dust guard floating or moving with the axle to compensate for relative movement between the journal box and axle in service.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a journal box of any ordinary or approved construction, which journal box has an opening 2 in its rear wall, the edges of which opening are bounded by a machine finished rib 3.

4 indicates lugs extending from the rear wall of the journal box and on each side of the opening 2. These lugs overhang the machine finished face 3, as shown in Figure 3, and if desired the lugs may be extended inwardly a sufficient distance, as indicated at P in Figure 3, so as to be located close to the hub 5 of the car wheel.

6 indicates the axle on which the hub 5 of the car wheel is mounted, as usual.

indicates the dust guard of sheet material, which 1s formed with a central opening, and

the edges of which are flanged, as at 7, said flanged opening being of such size as to snugly fit the axle. The top and bottom edges of the dust guard are provided with strengthening flanges 7 which terminate short of vthe side edges so that in placing the'dust guard in position in the guideways formed by the lugs 4:, theflanges 7 may pass freely between the inner edges of said lugs.

In operation, the dust guard is placed in position in its guideways on the rear outer face of the journal box, after which the journal box is placed in position on the axle, the skein, of course, being located within the journal box and co-operating with brasses, etc., not shown.

As seen in Figure 4, there is a clearance between the axle and the side edges of opening 2 at each side and at the top and bot tom, so that the axle is free to have a limited movement in the journal box. As the dust guard is carried bythe axle, the dust guard may float over the machine-finished face's3, being held thereagainst by the lugs at. The dust guard permits longitudinal movement of the axle therethrough, but partakes of vertical and lateral movement of the axle. The flanges 7 and 7 of the dust guard are preferably outwardly presented, as shown.

The dust guard is shown as being made of one piece, but it is obvious that the same could be made in two or more pieces.

In operation the wheel axle is lubricated in the journal box, usually by waste saturated with a lubricant, which waste occupying the lower portion of the journal box bears against the lower surface of the axle conveying the oil thereto. This oil will work its way along the axle and lubricate the finished faces 8 as well as the flange 7. The viscosity of the oil in the close joints between the moving; parts will prevent the entrance of dust or dirt into the journal box. When the flanged opening in the dust guard is worn so that it no longer makes a close joint with the wheel axle, it, of course, may be renewed s'nply by removing the journal box from the axle, taking out the worn dust guard, and replacing it with a new one.

What I claim is:

1. In a journal box, a dust guard of sheet material, stiffening flanges at opposite edges thereof, and unfianged edges projecting outwardly beyond the ends of said flanges and recesses in the body of said journal box adapted to slidingly receive said unflanged edges. 1 i

2. In combination, a journal box, opposed recessed lugs on the rear of said journal box, a journal box dust guard having opposite edges retained by and slidingly seated in said opposed recessed lugs, and reinforcing flanges on other opposite edges of said dust uard. by In combination, a dust guard for journal boxes provided with an opening for the wheel axle, opposite edges of said dust guard being strengthened by reinforcing flanges which terminate short of the side edges of said dust guard, and a journal box having overhanging lugs to engage the unflanged edges of said dust guard, the space between said overhanging lugs being greater than a the distance across each relnforcing flange on said dust guard.

4. In combination, a dust guard comprising a sheet of rigid material having an axial opening and an annular flange surrounding said opening and an unflanged portion extending radially from said flange, and a journal box provided with an axial opening and with lugs on opposite sides of the latter spaced apart greater distance than the diameter of said flange and provided with narrow radially extending recesses, the radially extending portions of said guard being slidably contained in said recess.

' In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 12th day of November, 1920.

FRANK S. BARKS. 

